Electric shaver



Nov. 9, 1965 c. E. ERICKSON ELECTRIC SHAVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July29, 1963 INVENTOR. Car/ 5. inc/(50f; BY I j ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 c. E.ERICKSON ELECTRIC SHAVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1963 IllINVENTOR. Car/ 5 fr/cks 0/7 ATTO KN D.

United States Patent 3,216,109 ELECTRIC SHAVER Carl E. Erickson, 678Carroll Drive, Moraga, Calif. Filed July 29, 1963, Ser. No. 238,370 4Claims. (Cl. 3041.5)

This invention relates to an electric shaver having overlapping cuttingmeans and hair collecting means therefor. The main objects of thisinvention are:

First, to provide an electric shaver which is easily manipulated in useand is highly efficient.

Second, to provide an electric shaver which comprises a foraminate fixedcutter and shield member of curved cross section and of substantialwidth and a coacting rotatable blade unit having a plurality of axiallyspaced parallel disk-like blades fixedly mounted on the shaft toconstitute a unit and so that each blade has a reverse stroke ormovement relative to the fixed blade on ecah rotation of the unit andthe strokes of adjacent blades overlap.

Third, to provide an electric shaver having these advantages whichincludes a chamber in which the rotatable blade unit is disposed andhaving a waste discharge conveyor located at the inner end thereof, thebody member having a detachable waste receptacle unit into which saidconveyor discharges.

Fourth, to provide an electric shaver having these features in which thebody member provides a handle which may be conveniently and effectivelygrasped for manipulating the shaver in use sidewise in either directionsand in widely varying angular relation to the surface on which it isoperated.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. A preferred embodiment of the inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shaver embodying my invention, several partsbeing shown conventionally.

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal fragmentary view partially in section on a linecorresponding to line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section on a line corresponding to line 44 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rotatable bladeunit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fragment of the shaft, one of theblades, and one of the blade supporting collars illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line corresponding to line77 of FIG. 3.

In the accompanying drawing some of the parts are shown mainlyconventionally and it should be understood that in the drawing it is notpractical to illustrate parts in the size of a commercial embodiment.

In the accompanying drawing, the housing designated generally by thenumeral 1 comprises a pair of complementary members 2 which include sidewall portions 3 conformed to provide a handhold or grip portion andcomplementary end wall portions 4. The two sections, in the embodimentillustrated, are secured together by the screws 5 and 6.

The housing side walls terminate in substantially inwardly spacedrelation to the outer ends of the end walls and they are inwardly curvedto provide handholds or grip portions. The ends of the end walls projectbeyond the outer edges of the side walls to receive the fixed cutter andshield unit 7 which is of curved cross section and extends from end toend of the housing and which comprises frame engaging end members 8 andthe longitudinal side members 9 which connect the inner ends of the endmembers 8 and are disposed against the outer edges of the side walls 2.This unit includes a foraminate 3,216,109 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 fixedcutter and shield 10 which in the embodiment illustrated has diagonallydisposed slot-like portions 11 with serrated edges and thickly disposedperforations 12, the structure in this respect being substantially thatof my pending application for patent, Serial No. 213,219, filed July 30,1962 which has matured into Patent No. 3,154, 851, granted November 3,1964.

The rotatably driven blade unit comprises a shaft 13 and a plurality ofdisk-like oval blades 14 desirably of uniform thickness and which may beformed of sheet stock and are supportedly mounted on the shaft 13 ininclined relation to its axes and in spaced parallel relation to eachother, these blades being supported in spaced relation by the spacingmembers 15 which also serve as reinforcing members for the blades. Theshaft 13 is provided with a longitudinally extending rib or spline 16,the blades being provided with notches 17 engaging this rib, and thespacing members 15 are provided with notches 18 engaging the rib orspline 16.

These blades 14 are disposed in such angular relation to the shaft andin such spaced relation to each other that as the shaft is rotated theblades are in shearing relation to the fixed cutter and shield unit andas the shaft 'is rotated the positioning of the blades in inclinedrelation results in a sweeping shearing action of the blades relative tothe fixed cutter and shield unit as is indicated by dotted lines in FIG.3. This results in a compound cutting action of the blades relative tothe fixed cutter, substantial arcs of the edges of the blades being inconstant shearing relation to the fixed cutter and shield unit and thisproduces a very desirable cutting or shearing action. For example, theperiphery of one blade at one extreme tilted portion thereof sweepsaround the inside of the fixed cutter shield in a circular path withtrailing portions of that same blade sweeping portions of the shielddisplaced progressively axially toward the axial center of the blade.Since the blades are spaced on the shaft 13 so that one extreme of oneblade is axially displaced beyond the opposite extreme edge of itsadjacent blade, the opposite extreme tilted edge of a second or adjacentblade, and its trailing portion will follow the path and at least aportion of the surface just traversed by the first portion of the firstblade being considered. Further, the axial progression of such oppositeedge of the second blade will be opposite to the axial progression ofthe first blade, over the same area of the inside of the shield. Thusone blade will sweep to the right and the adjacent blade will sweep tothe left in opposite or compound shearing action over a series ofperforations 12 and portions of slots 11. If the first blade does notmake a complete clean cut of a whisker, the next blade will pick up theremaining fragment and shear it 0E oppositely against the opposite edgeof the hole or slot through which the fragment may be projecting. Inthis illustrated embodiment of my invention nearly fifty percent (50%)of the edges of the blades are in operative relation to the fixed cutterunit. The minor axes of the ovals of the blades are perpendicular to theaxis of the shaft and their radii on that axis is equal to the radius ofsaid shield unit. The other radii of the oval shapes increase to amaximum as a function of the angle of each radii to the axis of theshaft, being equal to the radius of the shield unit divided by the sineof the angle of each radii to the shaft.

The driving, electric motor 19 is supportedly mounted in the inner endof the housing to extend longitudinally thereof and in substantiallyparallel relation to the cutter unit.

The motor shaft 211 is supported on bearings 21 and 22 and is connectedby the gears 23, 24 and 25- to the shaft 13, the gear 25 being disposedat one end of the shaft. The electrical connections for the motor to asource of power is indicated at 26.

In this embodiment of my invention the chamber in which the driven bladeunit is disposed is provided with a discharge way 27 with which thespiral conveyor 28 coacts to discharge the clippings into the receptacle29 which has dovetailed engagement at 30 with the housing and which isprovided with a retaining detent 31. The gear 24 is mounted on the shaftof the conveyor which has a bearing 32 at its end on which the gear 24is mounted, and a bearing 33 at its other end, these bearings beingmounted in the housing end members as are also the bearings for themotor shaft and the blade unit shaft or spindle 13.

The driven cutter blade unit of my present invention includes thearrangement of the disk-like oval blades in inclined relation to theaxes of the shaft as in my said pending application. The structure ofthis application is highly efiicient and may be produced much moreeconomically than that of the above referred to patent although it willbe understood that the shearing action of the blades relative to thefixed cutter is the same.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practicalembodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe otheradaptations or embodiments which I contemplate as I believe thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myinvention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by letters Patent is:

1. In a razor, the combination of a chambered body member dimensioned toconstitute a handpiece and having an opening in its outer end extendingfrom side to side thereof, an elongated foraminate fixed cutter andshield unit of cylindrically curved cross section supportedly mounted onand constituting a closure for said opening in the outer end of saidbody member, a blade unit comprising a shaft rotatably mounted at itsends on said body member, a plurality of disk-like oval blades ofuniform thickness supportedly mounted on said shaft in fixed inclinedrelation to its axis and in spaced parallel relation to each other withthe radii of the ovals being equal to the radius of said shield unitdivided by the sine of the angle between the axis of the shaft and radiiof the oval whereby the peripheries of the blades are in coactingshearing relation to said fixed cutter and shield unit, said bladeshaving continuous peripheral shearing edges coacting with said fixedcutter and shield unit and being spaced by a distance less than twicethe radius of said shield unit divided by the tangent of the angle ofthe major axes of the oval shapes to the axis of the shaft so that thesweeps of the cutting edges of adjacent blades overlap on each rotationof the blade unit with the peripheral edges of the blades in coactingshearing relation to the said cutter and shield unit, means for drivingsaid blade unit shaft including an electric motor mounted in saidhousing and having driving connection to said blade unit shaft at oneend thereof, said body member having a conveyor way disposed insubstantially spaced relation to and opening to the chamber in which thesaid blade unit is disposed, and a spiral clipping discharge conveyorrotatably mounted in said body member in coacting relation to saidconveyor way and drivingly connected to said motor, said body memberhaving a detachable waste receptacle disposed at the discharge end ofsaid conveyor way.

2. In a razor, the combination of a chambered body member dimensionedand conformed to constitute a handpiece and including end walls, anelongated foraminate fixed cutter and shield of arcuate curved crosssection and of substantial width supportedly mounted on and constitutingthe outer end wall of said chambered body member, a rotatable blade unitcomprising a shaft rotatably and supportedly mounted at its ends on theend walls of said body member, and a plurality of disk-like oval bladesof uniform thickness supportedly and fixedly mounted on said shaft ininclined relation to its axis and in uniformly spaced parallel relationto each other, said blades having continuous peripheral cutting edgeswith the radii of the ovals being equal to the radius of said shieldunit divided by the sine of the angle between the axis of the shaft andthe radii of the oval at the end of each radii, the blades being spacedby a distance less than twice the radius of said shield unit divided bythe tangent of the angle of the major axes of the oval shapes to theaxis of the shaft so that the sweeps of the cutting edges of adjacentblades in relation to said fixed cutter and shield overlap and move inshearing contact across the inside of said cutter and shield, means fordriving said rotatable blade unit including a motor unit mounted in saidhousing in inwardly spaced relation to said blade unit and havingdriving connections to said blade unit shaft at one end thereof, saidbody member having a trough disposed in inwardly spaced relation to saidblade unit and open to the portion of the chamber of said body member inwhich said blade unit is disposed, and a spiral conveyor rotatablymounted in said body member in coacting relation to said trough anddrivingly connected to said motor unit, said housing having a detachablewaste receptacle disposed at the discharge end of said trough.

3. In a razor, the combination of a chambered body member including sideand end walls and dimensioned to constitute a handpiece, an elongatedforaminate fixed cutter and shield unit of arcuate curved cross sectionand of substantial width supportedly mounted on and constituting theouter end Wall of said chambered body member, a rotatable blade unitcomprising a shaft rotatably and supportedly mounted at its ends on theend walls of said body member and a plurality of disk-like oval bladesof uniform thickness fixedly mounted on the shaft in inclined relationto its axis and in uniformly spaced parallel relation to each other andin coacting shearing relation to said fixed cutter and shield unit, saidblades having continuous shearing edges with the radii of the ovalsbeing equal to the radius of said shield unit divided by the sine of theangle between the axis of the shaft and the radii of the oval at the endof each radii, the blades being spaced by a distance less than twice theradius of said shield unit divided by the tangent of the angle of themajor axes of the oval shapes to the axis of the shaft so that thesweeps of the cutting edges of the adjacent blades overlap and move inshearing contact across the inside of said cutter and shield, means fordriving said rotatable blade unit including an electric motor mounted insaid housing in inwardly spaced relation to said blade unit and having adriving connection to one end of its said shaft at the outer side of theblades thereon, said chamber having a trough disposed in inwardly spacedrelation to said blade unit and open to the portion of the chamber ofsaid body member in which said blade unit is disposed, a spiral conveyorrotatably mounted in said body member in coacting relation to saidtrough and drivingly connected to said electric motor unit, and a wastereceptacle disposed at the discharge end of said trough and detachablymounted on said housing on said body member.

4. In a razor the combination of a chambered body member the inner endportion of which is dimensioned and conformed to constitute a handpieceand having an opening in its outer end extendig from side to sidethereof, an elongate foraminate fixed cutter and shield unit ofcylindrically curved cross-section supportedly mounted on andconstituting a closure for said opening in the outer end of said bodymember, a blade unit comprising a shaft sup-- portedly and rotatablymounted on said body member, a plurality of oval blades supportedlymounted on said" shaft in fixed inclined relation to its axis and inuni-- formly spaced parallel relation to each other and in cm actingshearing relation to said fixed cutter and shield unit, said bladeshaving continuous peripheral shearing edges coacting with said fixedcutter and shield unit with the radii of the ovals being equal to theradius of said shield unit divided by the sine of the angle between theof the shaft so that the sweeps of the cutting edges of 5 adjacentblades overlap on each rotation of the blade unit With the peripheraledges of the blades in coacting shearing relation to said fixed cutterand shield unit, means for driving said blade unit mounted in said bodymember in inwardly spaced relation to said blade unit and having 10driving connection to said blade unit shaft, said body member having awaste receiving chamber receiving the material discharged from saidblade unit and a demountable Waste receiving receptacle positioned toreceive the mounted in said body member to receive the discharge fromsaid blades and arranged to discharge into said waste receptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,286,443 6/42Scully 3043.92 2,674,037 4/54 Swenson 3041.6 2,802,260 8/57 Allen 3041.52,950,530 8/60 Fox 3041.5 3,154,851 11/64 Erickson 3041.5

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

discharge from said chamber, and a conveyor rotatably 15 MYRONC-KRUsEExamiIwr-

1. IN A RAZOR, THE COMBINATION OF A CHAMBERED BODY MEMBER DIMENSIONED TOCONSTITUTE A HANDPIECE AND HAVING AN OPENING IN ITS OUTER END EXTENDINGFROM SIDE TO SIDE THEREOF, AN ELONGATED FORAMINATE FIXED CUTTER ANDSHIELD UNIT OF CYLINDRICALLY CURVED CROSS SECTION SUPPORTEDLY MOUNTED ONAND CONSTITUTING A CLOSURE FOR SAID OPENING IN THE OUTER END OF SAIDBODY MEMBER, A BLADE UNIT COMPRISING A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED AT ITSENDS ON SAID BODY MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF DISK-LIKE OVAL BLADES OFUNIFORM THICKNESS SUPPORTEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT IN FIXED INCLINEDRELATION TO ITS AXIS AND IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER WITHTHE RADII OF THE OVALS BEING EQUAL TO THE RADIUS OF SAID SHIELD UNITDIVIDED BY THE SINE OF THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE AXIS OF THE SHAFT AND RADIIOF THE OVAL WHEREBY THE PERIPHERIES OF THE BLADES ARE IN COACTINGSHEARING RELATION TO SAID FIXED CUTTER AND SHIELD UNIT, SAID BLADESHAVING CONTINUOUS PERIPHERAL SHEARING EDGES COACTING WITH SAID FIXEDCUTTER AND SHIELD UNIT AND BEING SPACED BY A DISTANCE LESS THAN TWICETHE RADIUS OF SAID SHIELD UNIT DIVIDED BY THE TANGENT OF THE ANGLE OFTHE MAJOR AXES OF THE OVAL SHAPES TO THE AXIS OF THE SHAFT SO THAT THESWEEPS OF THE CUTTING EDGES OF ADJACENT BLADES OVERLAP ON EACH ROTATIONOF THE BLADE UNIT WITH THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF THE BLADES IN COACTINGSHEARING RELATION TO THE SAID CUTTER AND SHIELD UNIT, MEANS FOR DRIVINGSAID BLADE UNIT SHAFT INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED IN SAIDHOUSING AND HAVING DRIVING CONNECTION TO SAID BLADE UNIT SHAFT INCLUDINGAN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED HAVING A CONVEYOR WAY DISPOSED INSUBSTANTIALLY SPACED RELATION TO AND OPENING TO THE CHAMBER IN WHICH THESAID BLADE UNIT IS DISPOSED, AND A SPIRAL CLIPPING DISCHARGE CONVEYORROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY MEMBER IN COACTING RELATION TO SAIDCONVEYOR WAY AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR, SAID BODY MEMBERHAVING A DETACHABLE WASTE RECEPTABLE DISPOSED AT THE DISCHARGE END OFSAID CONVEYOR WAY.